The NASCAR Labor Day Throwback Weekend tradition at Darlington Raceway was a winner for Brad Keselowski thanks to his pit crew in the Bojangles’ Southern 500.
The Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series cars featured throwback paint schemes and even some of the pit crews wore throwback suits to pay homage to the sport’s history. However, it was two drivers that would make new history in the race at the historic NASCAR track.
Kyle Larson has never won at the track nicknamed “The Lady in Black” and had yet to win a race in the 2018 cup series. He looked to be set to change both of those personal statistics as he dominated the race Sunday evening, September 2nd.
Kyle was one of five drivers that exchanged the lead just seven times during the 367 lap race. In fact, he led a race high 284 laps in the race while winning both stage one and stage two of the race.
Brad Keselowski was also a driver looking for his first win in NASCAR’s top division at Darlington and first win of the 2018 season. Brad was strong all race long, but it was obvious it was going to take something extra to happen to give him a chance to take the win from the dominant Kyle Larson.
That something extra happened on lap 344 when Jeffrey Earnhardt spun and brought of the sixth and final caution of the race. When the cars made pit stops Kyle Larson had the lead of the race. Brad Keselowski’s pit crew was able to get him the lead coming out of the pits by just a bumper. However, that minimal lead leaving pit row gave him control of the race’s final re-start on lap 352.
That control gave Brad the chance to get out to the lead and drive away from Kyle Larson who slipped back to third place on the re-start. Brad held the lead for the final 15 laps and scored his first win in the NASCAR Cup Series at Darlington and his first win in the 2018 season.
Joey Logano was able to race to a second place finish with the race’s dominant car driven by Kyle Larson being relegated to a third place finish. Kevin Harvick finished in fourth place with Chase Elliott rounding out the top five. See the complete race results for the Bojangles’ Southern 500 here.
The top four spots in the point standings remain the same following the Darlington race with Kyle Busch in first, Kevin Harvick in second, Martin Truex Jr. in third and Kurt Busch in fourth. Joey Logano moves up to the fifth place in the standings after his second place Darlington finish. See the complete Monster Energy NASCAR Cup Series point standings here.
There is one race left in the NASCAR regular season. It is another crown jewel race for the spot. This Sunday, September 9th at the historic Indianapolis Motor Speedway the drivers and teams will have one final chance to “win to get in” the playoffs. The drivers that have already clinched their spots on the Chase Grid will be able to race to gain more playoff points in the Brickyard 400 this week.
By: Buck Stevens
